Horses in the mirror

The study of animal cognition can no longer ignore the close relation between mind, body and social context, without sounding anachronistic. This assumption is particularly true when considering horses’ cognitive abilities. Despite their nature – as social and lazily dynamic animals – domestic horses are often forced to live at the limit of their mental and physical needs from an early age. The pet-like status imposes on horses extreme living conditions, where the cognitive-emotional side of their equine essence remains overlooked, and their body is compelled to endure heavy stress. Despite the many investigations over the past years, we still cannot predict many factors influencing horse welfare and cognition in domestic settings. In particular, we are not yet able to protect these animals from the various issues that can undermine their psychological/health balance and also affect their athletic performance. This chapter aims at providing readers (and riders) with the tools to manage horses respectfully, both in terms of their physical (first section) and their mental well-being (second section). However, we will consider here only some skills of horses that may be relevant in the context of equitation, without claiming to have written a review of horse cognition to date. This chapter talks directly to people working with horses and in horse facilities, and it aims at providing them with extra scientific knowledge of the perceptual world of these animals thus developing higher levels of competency in horses’ management.